Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus including a feeder for feeding sheets stacked up in a sheet stock unit, a leading end regulator for regulating the leading ends in a feeding direction of sheets stacked up in the sheet stock unit, and a driver for moving the leading and regulating member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of increasing the detection accuracy of the size of an original and eliminating the need for an image sensor dedicated to detection of the size of an original. A first reading unit has a first light source disposed on one side of a conveyance path of an original for emitting light to one surface of the original. A second reading unit has a second light source disposed on the other side of the conveyance path for emitting light to be received by the first reading unit, an optical opening for causing the light emitted from the second light source and subsequently received by the first reading unit to pass therethrough toward the first reading unit. The original is detected on the basis of the resultant output of the first reading unit upon receipt of the light emitted from the second light source.

Abstract: This invention decreases a spectral reflectance in the entire visible wavelength range, to decrease inconveniences in an image such as flare or ghost. A non-reflective periodic layer including a large number of fine uneven periodic structure bodies is formed on a substrate, and an ND film is formed on the other surface of the substrate by vacuum deposition, to improve an anti-reflection function. Regarding a beam entering the ND filter, the MgF2 film of the formed ND film suppresses the spectral reflectance at the boundary of the atmosphere and the ND film and at the boundary of the ND film and the substrate. The non-reflective periodic layer decreases the reflectance at the boundary of the substrate and the atmosphere.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of a streak and reading a quality image from the leading edge to the trailing edge of a original. An original is conveyed along a convey pass. The original being conveyed is guided by a guide member, at least part of the guide member being transparent. An image of the original being conveyed is read by an image sensor through the guide member. Airflow is generated, the airflow being blown into the convey pass from a location upstream in a conveying direction compared to a location of the image sensor. The guide member has a convex portion disposed at a location upstream in the conveying direction compared to the location of the image sensor.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of continually conveying a plurality of originals in a stable manner while cleaning a contact glass of an image sensor and reducing streaks occurring in read images. An image sensor reads an original image via a contact member which the conveyed original may contact. A cleaning member, being provided on a turning member which is able to rotate or swing and disposed at a position opposing the image sensor, cleans the contact member's surface which the original may contact. The turning member is turned by a driving unit. A controlling unit controls the driving unit to turn the turning member so that cleaning of the contact member is performed by the cleaning member after the original has passed an image reading position of the image sensor and before a subsequent original reaches the image reading position.

Abstract: A network management system transmits/receives an email via a network; saves, in a database, first history information including the address of at least one of the destination and the source of the email written in the email; receives transmission information in which access information for accessing a web page via a network is written; saves, in the database, second history information including the access information written in the transmission information; inputs authentication information for identifying a user; and selectively displays the first history information saved in the first saving unit and the second history information saved in the second saving unit in a predetermined display format on a display unit by switching between the first history information and the second history information based on an instruction inputted by a user when the inputted authentication information is identical to previously registered information.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a magnetic substance detection sensor: which permits a high sensitivity magnetic field detection element to be effectively operative even in the vicinity of a magnet; which permits quantitative detection without depending upon the magnetic characteristic of a medium, e.g., soft magnetic material, etc.; which is compact and permits realization of reduced space; and which has high productivity. In addition, the present invention aims at providing a compact and high performance magnetic substance detecting apparatus.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of generating accurate shading correction data while removing noise. A shading reference plate is arranged at a location having different optical distance between the location and an image sensor in an image reading unit from optical distance between original reading position and said image sensor. The shading reference plate is read by the image reading unit whereby secondary reference data is acquired, and a reference sheet is read which is put on a position substantially identical to the original reading position whereby primary reference data is acquired. Primary and secondary correction data is generated based on the primary and secondary reference data, and correction coefficient data is generated based on the primary and secondary correction data. Shading correction data is generated based on read data of the shading reference plate and the correction coefficient data.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator according to the present invention includes a stator yoke 10 made of a magnetic substance and having projecting streaks 10a and 10b on the inner circumference thereof to produce magnetic bias to a rotor magnet 8. The stator yoke 10 is fitted into and fixed to a coil bobbin, a base plate 5, or a sheet metal 4 having a concave portion formed therein. This can hold shading members 2 and 3 to a totally closed position after shutoff of electric current through a coil and can stably achieve an appropriate position of the stator yoke 10 in a rotation direction to eliminate the need for fixing the stator yoke 10 with an adhesive or the like.

Abstract: Provided are a metal belt which is improved in wear resistance, thermal conductivity, thin wall designs, heat resistance and flexibility, a fixing belt in which this metal belt is used, and a high durability and high reliability heat fixing device which has this fixing belt. This metal belt is made of a nickel-iron alloy manufactured by an electroforming process, and the nickel-iron alloy satisfies relationships expressed by the following equations: 0.001?S?0.13, and??(1) 85×S+3?F?350×S+3??(2) wherein S represents a sulfur content (mass %) and F represents an iron content (mass %).

Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which the position of the boundary between an image of an original and a background image, as well as a skew and the size of the image of the original, can be accurately detected even with dust on a line image sensor or on an opposing member opposite to the line image sensor. An image formed on an original is read by a reading unit, and an opposing member is arranged at a position opposite to the reading unit. A plate glass distances the original from the opposing member. Shadow portions of the read image is detected from changes in a sub-scanning direction of pixel data of a read image generated based on output from the reading unit, and boundary coordinate data of the image of the original is obtained.

Abstract: An image data transmission apparatus which are capable of improving reliability of log files by ensuring proper storing of log information about transferred image data. A preceding log, which includes information about the transmission of image data, is transmitted to a log file server connected with a scanner via a network. In the scanner, it is determined whether the log file server has succeeded in receiving or storing the preceding log. If the log file server has succeeded in receiving or storing the preceding log, the image data is transmitted to a designated destination of image data transmission.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which can be readily used by an authenticated user without laborsome setting even if the user uses the image processing apparatus for the first time through an authentication server. A user is authenticated with an authentication server connected to an image processing apparatus via a network. User unique setting information for the authenticated user is set, and the user unique setting information for each user is stored in user information storing areas. Initial setting information of initial setting of the image processing apparatus is stored in an initial setting information storing area. When the authenticated user uses the image processing apparatus for the first time, duplicate copy of the initial setting information stored in the initial setting information storing area is stored as the user unique setting information in the user information storing areas.

Abstract: Provided is a double feed detecting device, including: a first detecting unit which is disposed in a conveyance path of a sheet member, and detects overlapping of the sheet members which pass along the conveyance path; a second detecting unit having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit which are opposed each other and disposed across the conveyance path, and detecting light which is irradiated from the light emitting unit and transmitted through the sheet member by the light receiving unit, and outputting a signal corresponding to a received light quantity; and a discriminating unit which discriminates the double feed when the first detecting unit detects the overlapping of the sheet members and an output signal of the second detecting unit is equal to or lower than a set double feed determination threshold value.

Abstract: A sheet discharge tray that can improve width direction alignment of discharged sheets of various sizes with a simple structure. Ribs are disposed on a sheet discharge tray. And a space between at least a pair of adjacent ribs among the ribs at a discharging direction upstream end portion is narrower than a space between the at least two adjacent ribs at a discharging direction downstream end portion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of appropriately performing show-through reduction processing and foundation color reduction processing in accordance with an operation for changing the color of a background member to another one having different color that is read along with an original. An image reading unit reads an image of a conveyed original. A background member has a white-colored member and a black-colored member and is disposed in such a manner that it opposed to the image reading unit. A moving unit moves the background member. A CPU determines a degree of image processing to be applied to read image data depending on the color of an opposing portion of the background member, which is opposed to the image reading unit that is reading an original.

Abstract: Configuration information representing the configuration elements of a client PC or the like on a network is compared with initial configuration information. When the configuration information changes, it is determined whether the configuration is proper. If the configuration is improper, the function of a corresponding configuration element to the network is inhibited. This can prevent an unstable state of the system, leakage of information, and a decrease in reliability of the network system upon a change in network configuration.

Abstract: This invention decreases deformation of a plastic substrate caused by thermal expansion and contraction in an evaporation process of forming a multi-layered film of an ND filter, thus helping prevent wrinkles. The plastic substrate serving as the base of the ND filter is made of a polyimide-based plastic material having a glass transition temperature of 200° C. or more, has a total transmittance of light of 90% or more, and has a haze factor of 0.5% or less. As the multi-layered film, Al2O3 films for reduction of the reflectance and TiOx films for reduction of the transmittance are alternately formed on the substrate.